International View: What actors could learn from travelling

Recently I’ve made quite a hard decision – to leave London for a while. I’ve come as far as possible in my current situation and it’s made me sit down and think about my priorities. Acting is my number one priority and if there is something keeping me from doing it, I need to get it out of my way even if it means giving up something.

After almost year-and-a-half of working really hard and giving up most of the fun stuff, I’ve totally burned out and am in need of a retreat, mentally. Travelling puts things in perspective and awakens creativity, which is just what I need right now. I have so many ideas that I need to put on paper and this would be a great chance to do so.

Going through the blogsof theseveryinspirational people I noticed a pattern: many were feeling trapped in a ‘traditional’ life before they set off to pursue their dream. They felt there was something more to life than going to work and buying stuff. They claim that quitting their jobs, getting rid of their stuff and pursuing their dream of travelling the world had been the best decision of their lives.

When I read their stories I realised that control over my life is something I’ve been missing. People who take their lives into their hands make things happen. James Devereaux, in a recent post (The Independent Actor on The Great Acting Blog), wrote about how things have changed for actors thorough history. He pointed out how difficult it is nowadays to break into acting.

More and more actors realise that the Internet is changing the face of showbusiness. This can be a gift when it is difficult to place yourself in the major market, especially when you are starting out. It makes it possible to work from anywhere. But it has a down side as well: the competition is fiercer than ever. A great example of success is Felicia Day, who created a web-series called The Guild where she not only cast herself (perfectly reflecting her type!) but gained control over her career. Ultimately, she just did what she loved, which is what got her where she is today.

Reading travel blogs, I noticed that a lot of them were creative people or people who found their creative voice on the road. They freed themselves to focus on their art. They don’t have to pay bills, they freelance and they can go where the gig is, which is something actors used to do. Travellers have taught me about the importance of following my gut even if the unknown scares the hell out of me. If I want to achieve my goals, I have to take action, set priorities and free myself.

I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do next, I just know I need to do something. Maybe I will find it on the road as well. As Gandhi said, “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”.

Lenka is an actor and blogger currently working in the Czech Republic and UK, who has also experienced the US market. She's sharing what she's learned and experienced with AYT readers. Lenka also has a personal blog called Acting Abroad and is helping potential drama school students on the IDSA blog.